Lotus flexi-fuel sports car on show in Japan

Visitors to the JSAE Show in Yokohama in May will be the first outside the United Kingdom to see the unique Lotus Exige 265E flex-fuel technology demonstrator. The world-class innovation will feature on the UK’s Pavilion and is set to be a star attraction of the show.

Lotus Engineering’s Exige 265E technology demonstrator, developed to run on any mixture of BioEthanol from 100% gasoline to E85 BioEthanol (15% Gasoline), will be the centrepiece of the UK’s stand at JSAE. One of the world’s quickest road-legal bio-ethanol fuelled cars, the Exige 265E, is powered by a modified version of the supercharged and intercooled 4-cylinder engine from the production Lotus Exige S. With 197kW (268PS) the Exige 265E accelerates to 100kph in 4.1 seconds and to a top speed of 254kph. It is an example of Lotus Engineering’s commitment to developing eco-friendly powertrain solutions that also provide an exciting and engaging driving experience.

The powertrain of the Exige 265E incorporates a modified fuel system and sophisticated Lotus-developed engine management programme. A sensor in the fuel tank diagnoses the real-time bio-ethanol/gasoline mix and the ECU adapts the engine fuelling, timing, camswitching and ignition strategies accordingly.

Lotus Exige 265E performance specification

  • Engine: Modified Supercharged 1.8l VVTL-I
  • Power: 197kW (268PS) @8,000rpm
  • Torque: 249Nm (25.4kgm) @5,500rpm
  • 0-100 kph: 4.1 seconds
  • Vehicle mass: 930Kg

About Lotus Engineering
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world’s OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering solutions for efficient performance, driving dynamics and exciting niche vehicles. Its full engineering expertise extends from initial concept and project design through development to full production prototype build, and includes third party “niche vehicle” engineering and manufacture worldwide.

(Cf. news from 2007-01-04, 2006-10-23 and from 2005-04-22.)

Source

Lotus Engineering, press release, 2007-05-14.

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